UMass Amherst Celebrates $400,000 Investment in Gloucester Marine Station, North Shore Economy with Top Regional Officials: UMass Amherst

GLOUCESTER, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and federal, state and local government leaders gathered at Gloucester Marine Station to raise $400,000 in federal and state funds in support of the North Shore Blue Economy Initiative and to announce their operations to the station.

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Gloucester Naval Station

The Commonwealth’s FY23 budget includes $200,000 to support the operations of Gloucester Marine Station, while an additional $200,000 will support Phase 2 of the station’s North Shore Blue Economy Initiative, an attempt to work closely with state, federal, nonprofits , business and research institutions to work together to support the development of a comprehensive, regional and robust economic development strategy to capitalize on new and emerging opportunities in the blue economy.

Subbaswamy thanked Governor Charlie Baker, his administration and the Legislature for their support, as well as federal, state and local officials in attendance, including Congressman Seth Moulton, State Senator Bruce Tarr, State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Gloucester Mayor Gregor Verga.

“Having spent my professional life at research universities, I’ve seen different versions of research centers that sometimes succeeded and sometimes failed,” Subbaswamy said. “And I’ve learned that a common denominator of successful ventures is shared engagement with the community. We are very grateful to the people of Gloucester for the opportunity to fulfill this part of our promise to the Commonwealth and we look forward to continuing the partnership.”

Tarr emphasized the strong partnerships between state and local governments, industry and academia to not only continue the station’s work, but to expand it.

“This resource is important to the Commonwealth and the country” for his work on sustainability, resilience and renewable energy, Tarr said.

Katie Kahl, Assistant Extension Professor of Sustainable Fisheries and Coastal Resilience and leader of the North Shore Blue Economy Initiative, spoke about the 300 partners involved in the creation of Phase 1 of the North Shore Blue Economy Phase I Findings and Vision Forward report and the Work involved that will take place in Phase 2.

“There are really exciting things on the horizon,” Kahl said, with new funding helping to enable the creation of a new dock that will serve as an example of resilient coastal design and engineering.

“We turn broken concrete into teaching and research spaces,” she said.